[naviga:h2]Shareholders approve NexTier, Manor merger[/naviga:h2]

NexTier Bank and Manor Bank jointly announced Wednesday that Manor’s shareholders approved the previously planned merger of Manor with NexTier.

The merger is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2017, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

NexTier Bank is a subsidiary of NexTier Inc. and has 26 branches in Butler, Allegheny and Armstrong counties.

As of Dec. 31, NexTier Bank reported total assets of $1.15 billion, total loans of $858 million and total deposits of $968 million.

Manor Bank has two branches in Westmoreland County. As of Dec. 31, Manor Bank reported total assets of $32.2 million, total loans of $20.2 million and total deposits of $28.5 million.

[naviga:h2]Sunoco to sell most of its convenience stores[/naviga:h2]

DALLAS — Sunoco is selling most of its convenience stores to 7-Eleven in a deal valued at $3.3 billion as it looks to focus more on its fuel supply business.

7-Eleven Inc. will get about 1,110 convenience stores, mostly along the East Coast and in Texas. About 200 convenience stores in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma will be sold separately. The transaction also includes fuel, merchandise and other inventories. It does not include Sunoco’s APlus franchisee-run stores or its Aloha Petroleum unit in Hawaii.

The sale, announced today, is expected to close by the fourth quarter.

[naviga:h2]Philadelphia’s soda tax might violate state law[/naviga:h2]

PITTSBURGH — An attorney for consumers, restaurants and beverage industry groups asked Commonwealth Court to strike down Philadelphia’s 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on soda, saying it violates a state law that limits the city’s taxing authority, among other laws.

The 1932 law passed by the General Assembly gives the city taxing authority — but also specifically prohibits it from taxing anything already taxed by the state.

Chip Becker, the attorney arguing against the tax Wednesday in Pittsburgh, says soda is already subject to the state’s 6 percent sales tax, making Philadelphia’s tax illegal.

But Mark Aronchick, the attorney defending the city’s position, said that the tax isn’t on soda, but on its distribution to retail outlets in the city.

The tax amounts to 18 cents on a 12-ounce can of soda or $1.44 on a six-pack of 16-ounce bottles if retailers pass on the entire amount to consumers.

[naviga:h2]Pepsi pulls mocked Kendall Jenner ad[/naviga:h2]

NEW YORK — Pepsi on Wednesday pulled an ad after it was widely mocked and criticized for appearing to trivialize protests for social justice causes.

“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding,” the company said. “Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize.”

It said it was “removing the content and halting any further rollout.”

The ad shows Kendall Jenner, a member of the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” reality TV family, stepping away from a modeling shoot to join a crowd of smiling, young protesters. The protesters cheer after Jenner hands a can of Pepsi to a police officer, who takes a sip.

PepsiCo Inc. had previously said the ad would “be seen globally across TV and digital” platforms.